Vehicle wheel rim



Dec. 18, 1928. l 1,696,015

w. R. ROBINSON VEHICLE WHEEL RIM Filed June 10, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet lDec. 18, 1928. 1,696,015

, w. R. ROBINSON VEHI CLE WHEEL RIM Filed June 1o. 1924 3 sheets-sheet 5Patented Dec. 18, 1928.k l

UNITED STATI-:s

Winni:l HIIssELL ROBINSON, or

Y, "1,696,015 PATENT OFFICE.

PROVIDENCE,` RHODE ISLAND.

VEHICLE WHEEL` RIM.

Application filed June 10,

-, said means, means tohold the ends of ade- Vtachable sideflange-loosely together before contraction thereof around the rimjandlocking` thereof.` o j' These and such other objects of my invention mayhereinafter appear `will be best vunderstood `from a description of oneembodiment thereof such as is shown in the accompanying drawings in usewith a .balloon tire.

In the drawings, Fig. l isa side elevation of a vehicle wheel having` aballoon tire at-` tached thereto by means of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed side elevation partially shown in section of theimproved clamping and locking means, before depression of the T-bolt. K

Fig. 3 is a detail sidey elevation partially shown in section afterdepression of the T- bolt and consequent lockingof the ends `of thedetachableV side flange in the flange seat'- ing portion. I

A Fig. i is a sectional'view of a vehicle wheel having a balloon tireattachedthereto by Vmeans of my invention adjacent to a curbing,

showing how the balloon tire-protects the flexible side flange andgroove from Contact with obstacles. I

Fig. 5 is a det-ail sectional view taken along the line {5f-5 of Fig. 2.n f e i Fig. 6 is a plan view vof the fiexible side iange,flange-loclring` means and adjacent parts with T-bolt removed.

Y Fig. 7 is a detail side elevationof a cable cap. f

Fig. 8 is a detail plan View of a cable cap. Fig. 9 is a side elevationof the flange end retaining member.

Fig. l() is an end view of the flange end' retaining member.A f Fig. llis a perspective view .ofmy im'- proved form :of T-bolt. l' 1; In thedrawings7 wherein'like characters i924. serial No. 71,156.

of reference indicate like parts throughout, 2 0 generallyindicates avehicle wheel.' The' rimr 26 or the outer periphery of the vwheel whereno separate rim demountable or other Awise isemployed, is provided .withthe'circumferential fiange 28 extending radially outwardly from theinner edge thereof adapted to abut one yside of atire. The oppositeortire detaching edge of the rim 26 in the embodiment shown isprovidedwith a depressed circumferential groove forming a Aseatingportion 3() for a'detachable-fiange.

In the embodiment,4 this groove is substantially semi-circular. As willLbe apparent this groove Oprovides a seating portion for adetachableflange.` and as will also be ap# parent 'when a flexibledetachable side flange such as a cable is employed with straight sidetires as in my preferred embodiment shown, the preferable shape ofthisflange seatingportion ofthe rim is a seini-circular depression asthe groove 30 shown. .In` the embodiment shown the'rim Qis provided withlugs 32 projecting radially inwardly` therefrom preferably` from thegroove 30. (Fig. 4:). These lugs 32thus project radially from the groove30. and inno way interfere with the detachable features of the rim. Saidlugs @are in the embodiment shown four in bolts 3G which normally project from the side of the vwheel felly 22 and are adapted to be securedthereto by the nuts 3S, lthough yit is ob-l vious that any othersuitable means for demountably securing the rim 26 to the felly 22V may'be employed, where the rim 26 is demountably attached tothe wheel 20. Inthe embodiment shown'tlie radial lugs 32 are set back vfrom the outeredoe of the 0roove 30 so that when 'in .assembled position the nuts 38are in turn protected by the'groove 30.

j Adapted to register *inV the detachable flange seating portion orgrooveBO of the rim 26 in theembodiment shown is the detachable i sidevflange 40. Said side frange 40 preferably shown in Fig. l the balloonedsides 43 of said tires prevent any obstacles such as the curbinglfronistriking the flexible detachable side flange l0 and groove 30 thusinsuring it against possible damage. As explained, l have shown the tireL12'having the straight sides 16 Where they abut the attachinglmeansthereof near the rim contacting edges 41:6 thereof. I i y 'In thepreferred embodiment shown l provide means tojdetachably clamp the endsof said cable flange L10 Within the flange seating portion 30 of saidrim 26. And preferably I also secure said detachable side flange to saidrimy 26 against rotative movement therein. lWhile any suitable type oflocking means may be employed, in myprcferred embodiment l have shown aspecific 'form of clamping means which embodies certain featureshitherto unknown in devices of this description. rllhe ends 58 and 5S)of said cable L10 are preferably circumferentially grooved as at 60 neartheir extremities. Cylindrical cap members 62, idei'itical inconstruction for each end of the cable are provided. Said cap members 62are preferably centrally chambered as at 64 from their cable attachingends 'adistance inwardly. it is obvious that With this construction, thecap members 62 may be forced over the ends 58 andl 59 of the cable andcircmnferentially grooved asA at'66 near their extremities. lt isobvious that the ridges 67 thus formed on the inner periphery of thegrooves 66 of the shell V of the cap members 62 register'- ing in thegrooves 60 in the ends 58 and 59 of the cable l0 will suitably secureand retain the cap members 62 to the ends 58 and 59 of the cable 10.Said cap members 62 are also longitudinally slotted at 70 a` distanceback trom their contacting ends 71 (see dotted line in Fig. 7). rlheouter rods 72 and inner rods 741-A are mounted near thecontactii'ig-cnds 71 thereof transversely of said longitudinal slots 70.

n.. radial hole 78 is provided in the groove 30 of the rim 26. Thoughthe retaining mem ber80 about to be described is not essential for aproper functioning of my improved clamping means it is preferablyemployed Where ease of assembly is desired. Said member 80 comprises atubular shank 82, adapted to be inserted through said hole 7S in thegroove 3() having its outer surface 841 suit-v ably concaved to 'form aflush surface With the' outer transverse'surface of the groove 130,(Fig. 10) and an outer portion 86 provided With longitudinal slots 88 ateach end thereof. The side portions 00 of said outer portion 86 havetheir outer sides centrally cut away as at 92' andat the extremitiesofsaid cut away portions 92 are provided With the transverse groovesv 96for a purpose to be described. rlhe retaining ,member S0 may bedetachably seated in the groove 30.

1 will now describe the unitary means employ to draw together the endsof said side flange L10 and todetachably lock them Within the groove 30of the rim 26. ln my preferred.embodimentv this comprises the modifiedni`bolt 100. Said T-bolt comprises he usual shank 102, threaded as at10tV and the usual head 106. Said head 106 comprises the usual T-headportions 108 and 110 projecting laterally from said shank 102 atdiametrically opposite sides thereof. Said head portions 10S and 110 areprovided at the lower inside surfaces thereof Anear the shank with thegrooves 112 extending trans'- vers-ely thereof. A'll`his constructionwill permit a locking registration of the transverse outer rods 72erholes, Where employed in the grooves 112 lwhen once inserted therein'.in addition as explained, l provide means unitary with the locking meansto draiv together the ends 5S and 59 of the detachable side flange el()to seat them in locking posi# tion. ln my preferred embodiment saidmeans comprises lugs 114 projectingdoivir Wardly 'from each end 10S and110 of the head 106 of the lshaped bolt 100 preferably narrower than thehead andbevelledf towards the head 'from their ends 118 as at 120. lt isobvious that as the shank 102 ofA said T-bolt 100 is drawn downthat-these bevelled surfaces 120 will contact the outer .transverse rods72 or apertures having abut! ments in the side Walls thereofWhereemployed thereby drawine'the ends 58 'and 59,

of the detachable side nange d0 together until said apertures or outertransverse `rods 72 are seated Within said transverse grooves 112thereby securely locking the ends of the side flange 10 together Withinthe flange seating portion V30 of the rim 26. A nut 122 is provided forthe shank 102 of said nim-bolt 100, and the lock-Washer 124e may beprovided therefor if desired. lt is obvious that as the lugs l114i aredrawn down that they will register within Athe slots 8S of the outerportion 8601l the retaining member 82 thus assisting in securing rsaidbolt against .rotative movement. y

The operation of Amy inventioi'i` is obvious from the above description.llfhere a demountable rim construction .is employed, the rim 26 with orWithout the tire '12l attached thereto may be slid over the felly 22,the bolts 36 projecting from the folly 22 registering in the holes 3% ofthe lugs 32 project# ing radially inwardly from the groovev 30. (Fig.ll). rlhe rim 26 may then be demount- 4ably secured to the felly'22 bythreading the nuts 38 on the projecting ends of the bolts 36. To removethe rim 26 with `or Without the tire 4:2 attached, a reversal of theseoperations is necessary. It is obvious that dueA to the construction lemploy of having the lll) - the tire 42 has been placed on the rim 26,

insert the tubular shank 82 of the retaining member 88 when employed vifnot already permanently attached within the groove in the radial hole78'in the flange seating portion 30. The flexible cable is then insertedin the groove 30'Kand without any` stretching' thereof vor great effortthe inner transverse rods 7 4 thereof may be convenient- Y ly restedandretained within the transverse grooves 96 at the extremities ofthecut away `central portion 92 of the-outer portion 86'of the cable endretaining member 80. The shank 102v of theT-bolt 100 is then inserted`llnough the' tubular inner portion 82 of the retaining member 80, orthrough the hole '7 8, the ends 58 and 59 of the cable being held inposition by hand when the retaining member l is not employed, and nut.124 threaded thereon, the parts now assuming the approximate `positionshown in Fig.. 2, the upper rods.

. 72 resting againstY the lower portion of the bevelled surfaces 120ofthe lugs 114.l The nut 124 is then turned, thereby drawing the shank102 ofthe T-bolt 100 down. The bolt may however,be knocked into positionby one sharp blow and the nut 124 threaded on later. rIhis in turn pullsdown the bevelled rods 72 to be drawn together, drawing the ends ofthecable vtightly togethen'until the outer transverse rods 72 sink intolocked position in the transverse grooves 112 in the lower insideportions of the headv 106` of the T-bolt 100, thereby locking thel endsofthe flexible detachable side flange 40 within the flange seatingportion 30 of. therim 26. The tire in ay then be inflated/and during usethe parts will assume-the position shown inFig. `3. The lugs 114.registering in the slots 88 will assist in securing the parts inposition.

To remove the tire 42 from the rim 26 after deflation thereof loosen thenut 124, if the T-bolt does not spring upward to the position shown inFig, 2 strike the end of the shank 102 a sharp blow, causing the partsto resume the position shown in Fig. 2. The T-bolt 100 may then beremoved, the-inner transverse rods 7 4 lifted from the transversegrooves 96 and flexible side flange 40 detached from the flange seatingportion 30, retaining member 8O removed and the tire 42 pulled on' therim 26.

It is obvious that I'have provided a combined demountable and detachablerim of improved construction whereby thefunctioning of each part thereofinterferes in no way with v the other, that I have providedv a `vehiclewheel having a` detachable-side flange comprising'a flexible memberalonefor the first time, 'means to detachably secure the ends oftheflexible yside flange within the flange seatingr portion of the rim, aunitary means for drawingtogether the ends of the detachable sideflangeand lockingitlwitliinr the flangeseating portion and if desired to therim, an' improved form ofv T-bolt, Vand a vehicle wheel constructioneasy to assemble,

sure in its action, easy to manufacture, and

` especially adapted for use with balloon tires.

I employ-the word rim where aseparate rim, zdemountable or otherwise is'not em'- ployed'to signify the outer'periphery of. the solid portion ofthe wheel.

I'employk the word cable vto signify any type of.y flexible detachableVsidev flange, whether' it bev constructedof jwire, strands,

fibrous material or otherwise'.

f In the claims I employ the words innerf and outer etc. to describe theposition of the T-bolt when held head-up, regardlessof any position itmay assume in use on the wheel.4 v; -1 Y vMy invention is not limitedexcept as claimed to the specific embodiments shown and variousdeviations may be Amade 'therefromwithout departing fromthe spirit andscope of the appended claims. e y

VVhat I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: y

1. In a vehiclewheel,l having a rim vhaving a seating portion for adetachable flange having ta hole therein, a detachable side flange forsaid rim having apertures having abutments in t-he side walls thereofnear its ends, and a T-shaped locking bolt having grooves extendingtransversely of the lower inner portion. ofthe head thereof adaptedtoreceive `in the abutments inthe 4sidewalls of said apertures said flangeto detachably lock the ends of said flange therein and a shank portionadapted to project through said hole in said flangeseating portion ofsaid rim and te secure said detachable flange to said rim.

' 2. In a vehicle wheel, having a rim having draw the ends of saidflange together within said flange seating portion, grooves extendingtransversely of the lower inner portion "of the head thereof adapted .toreceive the abutments in the side walls of said apertures saiddetachable flange to lock the ends'of said flange therein and aV shankvportion adapted to project through said hole in said flange seatingportion of said riin and to secure said detachable flange to said rim.

3. In a vehicle wheel, having a rin'i having aseating` portion for adetaohable flan ge having a hole therein, a detachable side flange forsaid rim having its ends longitudinally slotted and having rodsextending transversely of said slots, anda T-shaped locking bolt havinggrooves extending transversely of the lower inside portion of the headthereof adapted to receive said transverse rods to detachaloly lock theends of said flange therein and a shank portion adapted to'projectthrough said hole in said flange seating portion of said rirn to securesaid detachable fiange to said riin. l

el. In a vehicle Wheel, having a rixn having aseating portion for adetachable flange having a hole therein, a detachable side flange forsaid rim having its ends longitudinally slotted and having rodsextending trans-` versely of said slots and a'T-shaped locking holthaving lugs projecting` downwardly from each end of the head thereofhevelled towards said head frein the `ends thereof and adaptedto'contact said transverse rods to d raw the ends of said fiangetogether, grooves extending transversely of the lower inside portionA ofthe head thereof adapted to receive said transverse rods to detachahlylock the ends ofsaid fiange therein and a shank por- 'tion adapted toproject through said hole in said flange seating portion of said riin tosecure said detachable flange to said riin.

5. In a vehicle wheel, having a rhn having al seating portion for adetachable flange having a hole there-in, a detachable side flange forsaid riin having its ends longitudinally slotted and having outer andinner sets'of rods extending transversely of said slots, a T-shapedlocking holt having lugs projecting downwardly from each end of theouter transverse rods to draw theends of said flange together, groovesextending transversely of the lower inside portion of the f head thereofadapted to receive said outer transverse rods to detachably lock theends of said flange therein and a shank portion adapted topi-ejectthrough said hole-lin said flange seating portion of said riin to securesaid' detachable flange to sa-id rim and a retaining ineniber having ashank adapted to register in the hole in said groove around the shank ofthe T-bolt and an outer portion longitudinally slotted and having. its.outer side transversely grooved to receive the inner transverse rods ofsaid flange to firinly retain the ends of the flange together beforedepression of the T-holtand n'ieanstovlock said holt to said rim. Y y iY G. In a vehicle `Wheel, having a. riin having a seating portion for adetachable fiange having a hole therein, a detachahleside flange forsaid riin having its rends longitudinally slotted and having rodsextending transversely of said slots, a T-shaped locking holt havinglugs projecting downwardly from each end of the head thereof. bevelledtowards said head from the ends thereof adapted to contact saidtransverse rods to dra-iv the ends of said flange together and grooveseX- tending transversely of the lower inside por; tion of the headthereof adapted to receive said transverse rods to detachaloly lock theends of said flange therein, a shank portion adapted to project throughsaid'hole in said flange seating portion of said rini to seciire saiddetachable flange to said rini .and nieans to loosely retain the ends ofsaid fiange together before depression of the T-bolt. i In testimonywhereof affix my signature IVIH'I RUSSELL ROBINSON.

